Hello Readers! Another month has flown by, and we’re finally enjoying some warmer and dryer weather here. I was able to sit outside and read for a little yesterday evening, which was nice!
I read 7 books and one short story this month, for a total of 2,250 pages. For the first time in a long time, I read just as many Contemporary Fiction books as Romances, 3 books were ARCs and 4 books were from my backlist, and I read 2 via Libby! I also crossed off a few more Popsugar Reading Challenge prompts. I read all but one of the books on My April TBR, Happy Place by Emily Henry, which I wasn’t able to get my hands on by the end of the month. It’ll make another appearance on my May TBR.
Let’s see what I read!
Be sure to check out The Monthly Wrap-Up Round-Up hosted by Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction!
April Wrap-Up
(Link to synopsis on Goodreads through the book title.)
I started the month reading a backlist book off my own shelf, My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren. I believe it’s my eighth book by the duo, and it reaffirmed that I haven’t met a Christina Lauren book I haven’t liked. Yet. I loved the friend group in this sweet romance!
➤My Rating: ★★★★☆
➤Popsugar prompt: A book with just text on the cover
Next I picked up my ARC of Elvin James Mensah’s debut Small Joys. A quiet novel that spoke a heartbreaking truth, this one is refreshing and pure, giving me major Heartstopper vibes.
➤My Rating: ★★★★★
➤Popsugar prompt: A book with a queer lead
➤My Review
➤Published on April 11, 2023
One of my goals for the year was to use the Libby library app more often and I’ve been doing pretty well. When my waitlist book Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbet became available, I picked it up next. The third book in The Brown Sisters series, I was happy to finally finish this delightful collection. While the third book didn’t quite live up to its predecessor and my favorite, Take a Hint, Dani Brown, I still had fun with it. Loved the setting! I also read the Bonus Epilogue short story available here, which wrapped up the series nicely!
➤My Rating: ★★★★☆
➤Popsugar prompt: A romance with a fat lead
A last minute advanced reader copy invitation from Celadon Books, I couldn’t resist reading If We’re Being Honest by Cat Shook. I was very impressed with this witty debut about the dysfunctional Williams family.
➤My Rating: ★★★★.25
➤My Review
➤Published on April 18, 2023
I went ahead and picked up my next ARC, The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane. I’d read and enjoyed Keane’s previous book Ask Again, Yes, and I was even more excited about the synopsis for this one. I always love the idea of books set during a snowstorm and books set around a local pub, so this one had a lot of things that attracted me. I was not disappointed! One of my favorite reads of the month!
➤My Rating: ★★★★.5
➤Popsugar prompt: A book published in spring 2023
➤My Review
➤Expected on May 3, 2023
Another book off my backlist, James Baldwin’s classic If Beale Street Could Talk is beautifully done. I read it all in one day because I couldn’t set it down. I watched the film, as well, and it was very faithful to the book. I highly recommend both!
➤My Rating: ★★★★☆
➤Popsugar prompt: A book set the decade you were born
When another book on my Libby waitlist became available, I quickly picked up Addicted to You by Krista & Becca Ritchie. This one has been getting a lot of attention lately thanks to TikTok. Originally self-published, I can say I was addicted to this one, unable to look away from the drama, but I didn’t end up loving it. Not sure if I’ll continue on with the series or not.
➤My Rating: ★★★☆☆
➤Popsugar prompt: A book your friend recommended
In case you missed it…
- My March 2023 Trope-ical Readathon Wrap-Up
- March 2023 Monthly Wrap-Up
- Top Ten Tuesday: Indie/Self-Published Books On My TBR
- ARC Review | Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
- March 2023 Book Haul
- Top Ten Tuesday: Upcoming Or Recent Releases With Animals On The Cover
- The 2023 Quarter Year Crisis Book Tag
- Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Non-Bookish Things I’m Loving Right Now
- Top Ten Tuesday: Audiobooks For Someone Who Doesn’t Like Audiobooks
What I’ve been watching…
- We’ve been enjoying the return of Ted Lasso, Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Dave.
- I’ve already binged all of the second season of Single Drunk Female.
- I’m enjoying the adaptations of The Last Thing He told Me (My Review) and Saint X (My Review), both thrillers based on the books, which I enjoyed.
- I’ve watched a few episodes of Tiny Beautiful Things based on the nonfiction book by Cheryl Strayed. They’re well-done but heartbreaking. I’ve not read the book and I’m not sure if I will, which is why I didn’t mind going ahead and watching the show.
- And like I mentioned above, I watched the adaptation of If Beale Street Could Talk, which I thought was very well-done.
How was your reading month? Have you read any of these books? Did you add any of them to your TBR? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Wandering!
You HAVE to at least read the next Addicted book. It might have you changing your mind about giving up the series.
I had a feeling you might say that! 😂 Mayyybe I will. Ha!
It’s nice because it continues the story with Lily and her struggles while Lo is in rehab.
So many of these books look like ones I would like. Especially the Christina Lauren. 😀
I was nervous about that one, but I really liked it!
I haven’t read any of those books, but If We’re Being Honest is on my TBR 🙂
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!!
Tiny Beautiful Things is already out? I didn’t know that! I read the book a few months ago and I really loved it. It was a comforting book.
All those ARC books have such nice covers and they all sound interesting!
I’m glad you had a great reading month. I hope you have a wonderful May!
Yes! I think it just came out last week?? Maybe? Happy reading to you, too!
It sounds like April was a great reading month for you! Here’s to a good May as well!
I never understand the hate that CLo book gets. I loved it. Like you, I thought the friend group was fantastic